A $100,000 Cool Cities grant from the state will help fund interior improvements and renovations to five Downtown properties. "These funds will support five major building projects in a one-block area of our Downtown and help us guide a design process that is consistent with its character. We could not do it without the Cool Cities award," says Jeff Nahan, chairperson of Ferndale Downtown Development Authority. "We are truly honored to be a recipient of this grant and all of the resources the state has to offer."

The Cool Grant to Ferndale is part of $2 million in such funding that the state handed out in a total of 20 cities in August. Additional projects designated to receive Cool Cities funding are in Alpena, Bay City, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Marquette, Port Huron, Portland, Saginaw, Saugatuck, Sault Ste. Marie, Traverse City, Warren and Ypsilanti.

"These grants will help bolster local efforts to create more inviting Downtown centers that will attract investment and jobs," Gov. Jennifer Granholm says. "We want to help communities jump start their creative plans to attract residents, investment and jobs."